Do you really know what the classic story "The Wizard of Oz" is about? I'll give you a
hint, it's not
about some girl flying over a rainbow, playing with living scarecrows, and battling
witches. Each
character in the story symbolizes something much deeper. It was a metaphor of a young
girl leaving her
home facing the harshness of life on her own. The moral of the story is that no matter
how wonderful a
place may be, there is no place like home. "The Wizard of Oz", with all of it's morals,
and meanings was
an allegory. Just like "The Wizard of Oz", the story "The Minister's Black Veil", by
Nathaniel Hawthorne
is too an allegory, a story with a moral and filled with symbolism from cover to cover.
In this story
these were several important symbols, including the congregation, Parson Hooper himself,
and, of course,
the black veil.
The congregation was an extremely curious bunch. When Parson Hooper entered the
church he was
the subject of every single person's attention. Gazes that were fixed on the black piece
of crepe were
those of amazement, fear, and wonder. "Few could refrain from twisting their heads
toward the door"
(Hawthorne 221). Society's normal reaction to change is curiosity. The people's talks
Sunday morning
were all centered on why Mr. Hooper wore the strange veil. "The people hurried out with
indecorous
confusion, eager to communicate their pent-up amazement" (Hawthorne 221). The
congregation symbolizes
curiosity and judgementality because the people were introduced to something they were
unfamiliar with,
the black veil.
The pastor also makes an allegorical implication. His representation of mankind
evolves when he
conceals his sin with the black veil. As with some people, Mr. Hooper believes that he
can be rid of his
guilt through suffrage. "...And if I cover it (his face) for secret sin, what mortal
might not do the
same" (Hawthorne 224). The pastor also signifies sorrow. His melancholy ways show how
sad he truly is.
"With self-shuddering and outward terrors, he walked continually in its (veil) shadow,
groping darkly
within his own soul..." (Hawthorne 225). Mr. Hooper is an important symbol in the
allegorical meaning of
the story.
The veil that reverend Hooper so reverently wore throughout his life was a symbol
of evil and
isolation. It can be said, that as humans we associate black, and hiding with evil. The
reverend, by
hiding his face with the black piece of crepe caused people to believe that he had done
something wrong.
"There was nothing terrible in what Mr. Hooper said, at least, no violence, and yet, with
every tremor of
his melancholy voice, the hearers quaked" (Hawthorne 221). The hiding of the reverend's
face by the veil
caused people to assume that he had done some evil deed and they therefore isolated him
from their
cliques. On any normal Sunday, Mr. Hooper would be invited to spend time with many
people; however, the
veil took him away from the congregation, they feared that which they could not see. "He
has changed
himself into something awful, only by hiding his face" (Hawthorne 220). It can therefore
be concluded
that a modest veil made a good man seem evil, and henceforth isola!
ted him from the people for whom he cared so deeply.
As can be seen, a simple story can easily represent much more than is obvious.
Within this one
particular tale, one can see that the three aforementioned items carry with them an
allegorical meaning,
greater than can be expressed in the story. The veil, the parson, and the congregation,
all come
together in the end to remind one to be wary of sin, for you must carry the burden for
life.
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